Bio + Essay

BIO

Alexis Duque is a NYC based artist born in Medellin, Colombia. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Antioquia, Medellin and has exhibited in numerous venues including: El Museo del Barrio, The Heckscher Museum of Art, Praxis International Gallery in NY; Schiltkamp Gallery at Clark University, Worcester, MA; Ogden Contemporary Arts, Ogden, UT; The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art, Midland, MI; and Galleri Oxholm in Copenhagen, Denmark. Duque’s work has been featured in “Imagine Architecture: Artistic Visions of The Urban Realm” by Gestalten, WhiteHot Magazine, Beautiful Decay and New American Paintings among others.

ESSAY

Illuminating the Invisible: The Art of Alexis Duque

Alexis Duque’s art stands as a poignant narrative that intertwines personal history with broader socio-political themes, offering a profound exploration of migration and identity. His recent body of work, particularly the series titled “The Owners of Nothing,” delves into the experiences of those who have been historically marginalized and rendered invisible by dominant socio-economic systems.

This essay seeks to contextualize Duque’s work within the framework of figurative art, examining how his personal journey and artistic choices contribute to a deeper understanding of displacement and cultural identity.

Duque’s art is deeply influenced by his dual identity as a Colombian and an immigrant in the United States. This duality has profoundly shaped his perspective, infusing his work with themes of displacement and cultural memory. Duque’s migration experience, marked by both challenges and revelations, drives his exploration of memory and identity. This personal history is particularly relevant in the context of the broader Latin American immigrant experience, characterized by forced or voluntary exile due to political, social, and economic pressures.

Migration, as depicted in Duque’s art, begins with the geographical dislocation of individuals uprooted from their ancestral lands. This displacement often compels them to move to the peripheries of large cities, a phenomenon notably evident in Colombian urban landscapes. This aspect of Duque’s experience provides essential context for understanding the motivations and messages embedded in his paintings.

Duque’s new series of paintings "The Owners of Nothing" is, in part, inspired by Eduardo Galeano’s poem "The Nobodies," portraying those sidelined by society. These are the dreamers whose aspirations remain unrealized, the unnoticed whose absence goes unremarked, and the semi-nomads compelled to migrate to urban centers in pursuit of a brighter future or as a means of survival. Many of these predominantly Indigenous, Black, and mestizo communities, which make up a significant portion of the world’s population, have historically been rendered invisible since colonial times, living in uncertainty, often unemployed and without economic possessions, and ignored by dominant power structures like the Catholic Church and despotic political regimes that perpetuate poverty and social exclusion.

Duque's approach in this series shifts the narrative by ennobling and empowering his subjects, rather than depicting them in stereotypical roles of misery. By portraying them in moments of recreation and leisure, he highlights their humanity. This artistic choice challenges prevailing narratives and provides a dignified and uplifting representation of his subjects.

A notable feature in some of Duque's work is the elongation of figures, which imbues the characters with an aura of transcendence and elevation, metaphorically stripping them of gravity and placing them in a context that elevates their everyday existence.

Duque's process involves photographing individuals in the streets of various Colombian cities and small towns, capturing people in public squares, marketplaces, and in their daily routines. Once back in his NYC studio, he begins to paint these subjects.

This transition from one context to another is reflected in his use of neo-expressionism and neo-impressionist styles, evoking the distant geographies and tropical lights of his memory. This artistic process allows him to contemplate and observe his cultural essence, seeking answers to essential questions about origin, identity, and destiny.

Alexis Duque's art offers a profound exploration of migration and identity, providing a voice and visibility to those who have long been overlooked. His paintings invite viewers to reconsider their perceptions and appreciate the dignity and beauty of lives often ignored. Through his innovative use of figurative art and his personal narrative, Duque reshapes the conversation around marginalized communities, encouraging a broader understanding of their experiences and contributions. -NYLAAT